Round-Up: Lawmakers visit former prison near Las Animas; Closing the poverty gap; and more

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Some state lawmakers spent time at the former Fort Lyon Correctional Facility near Las Animas today, considering whether to repurpose the prison under a proposal from Governor John Hickenlooper. The Governor has proposed using the former prison as a voluntary treatment center for the chronically homeless, especially veterans. The governor’s office is asking for around $6 million over the next two fiscal years to make the change. The facility was closed two years ago because of a declining prison population.

Colorado’s Latino and black residents are falling further behind the state’s white residents in some of the most important measures of social progress. That’s the finding of a recent investigation by I-News, which analyzed six decades of census data. When it comes to closing the poverty gap for Latinos, blacks– and all of Colorado’s residents–Senate Democrats are promoting legislation that would offer three tax credits to working families. Senator John Kefalas of Fort Collins is a sponsor of the bill.

“The intent is to put money into people’s pockets, to help local economies, and to help struggling families that one could classify as the working poor. These are families that are working and they’re having a hard time making ends meet.”

Kefalas also plans to introduce legislation that would include “economic wellbeing” statements as part of state fiscal notes.

Hundreds of people turned out for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. marade in Denver today. The marade is a combination of march and parade. Participants walked down Colfax Avenue from City Park to Civic Center Park near the state Capitol.

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